Head chef from Cherry Blossom Manor care home in Bramley crowned the best in the country at the Barchester Care Awards 2023

A Bramley care home chef has been crowned national chef of the year at her company’s annual awards.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,000 residents living in Barchester’s 257 care homes and private hospitals across the country.

Angel Melliel Kho, who works at Barchester’s Cherry Blossom Manor care home on German Road, won her hard-fought regional cook off final in the summer to make it through to the gruelling national final where she saw off all the competition to be named the best chef in the nation.

Ms Kho said: “I just can’t believe I have been named the national winner. I am so proud and so thankful to everyone who nominated and voted for me.

“The other chefs were all so good, they were all really tough competition. It means the world to me to be recognised for doing the job I love.”

Ms Kho’s win was announced at a special national award ceremony which took place on October 11.

Cherry Blossom Manor’s general manager Gigi Despojo said: “This is such a fantastic achievement, to be named the best across the entire Barchester business – the whole home is so proud of her.

“Angel is such an asset to our home. She always goes the extra mile to ensure she has done the best possible job and our residents have everything they need.

“Everyone in the home loves Angel, she is so hard-working and so caring. She thoroughly deserves this award.”